Berwick Excel students request 'No Idling'

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 3:15 AMFeb 27, 2013 at 8:25 AM

User Submitted News by Marissa Tasker

BERWICK, Maine — A group of young Excel students have decided to make the air they breathe a little better.

Hussey Elementary School in Berwick now has two new “No Idling” signs due to the work and research of the Science Excel class. The program is Maine School Administrative District 60's gifted education program.

After learning about idling from Peter Zack of the Maine Energy Education Program, they decided to spread the word about the dangers of idling. They discovered that cars that idle for more than 5 minutes produce toxins that affect air quality.

They produced a newsletter tackling idling myths and presented the newsletter and a play written by the students to the Berwick Parent-Teachers Organization at one of their meetings. They also presented their research to the principal and received approval to put up two signs in the school's drop off and bus area that asks drivers to stop idling.